Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Troopers ticket Prince William Sound shrimpers

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Port Wells, Prince William Sound
Type: Failure to register, unlicensed crew
On 4/16/11 Alaska Wildlife Troopers from Cooper Landing and Seward contacted the F/V CC Ranger in Port Wells during the commercial shrimp pot fishery. Investigation revealed the vessel captain and permit holder, Clayton Nelson, 23, of Kenai, failed to register his vessel as required by regulation. Additionally, crewmembers Michael Jahrig, 23, of Soldotna, and Casey Mitchell, 24, of Sedro-Woolley, Wash., did not possess valid commercial crewmember licenses. Jahrig and Mitchell were each cited and Nelson was cited for failing to register his vessel in Area E and employing unlicensed crewmembers. Arraignment was set for 5/10/11 in Seward District Court.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Juneau men cited on multiple Dungeness counts

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Juneau
Type: Permit holder not present, unlawful possession of shellfish,
unsworn falsification, forgery and fish ticket violations
On 4/13/11 James R. Jensen, 57, Ole Nordgren, 43, Samuel D. Olson, 48, and Albert M. Mazon, 21, all of Juneau, were cited for multiple commercial fishing violations related to the summer 2010 commercial Dungeness crab fishery. All four men were issued summonses to appear on 4/26/11 in the Juneau District Court. The charges are a result of an investigation conducted by wildlife troopers in Juneau and Petersburg. The fishing vessel Fly-by-Night was previously seized by troopers in October of 2010 and is being held pending the outcome of the case.

Troopers: Ketchikan sportfisherman sold halibut

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Ketchikan
Type: Illegal sale of sport-caught halibut
On 4/14/11 David Mason, 46, of Ketchikan, was cited by Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Ketchikan Post, for illegally selling sport-caught halibut to local businesses in Ketchikan, using longlines to sportfish for halibut, and sportfishing on multiple occasions without a valid nonresident sportfishing license. This case was a joint enforcement effort between the National Marine Fisheries Service and Ketchikan Wildlife Troopers.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Sitka sportfish guide sentenced for repeat offenses

Here's a press release from the Alaska State Troopers.

Troopers ticket fisherman in Sitka Sound

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 4/6/11 at approximately 1610 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Sitka contacted Russell Snell, 52, of Hoonah, in the western part of Sitka Sound. Investigation revealed that Snell was fishing in waters that were closed and Snell also failed to display his vessel ID number. Snell was given a warning as well for possession of an undersize king salmon. Snell was issued a citation with bail set at $210 for the vessel ID number and Snell was additionally issued a summons for the closed
period and is due to be arraigned on 5/10/11 in Sitka District Court.

Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter:

Disorderly conduct, April 4 — Officers responded to a disturbance at Bering Fisheries, where one drunken man had begun flinging furniture about in response to an unidentified family problem. The drunk, who neither lived nor worked on the premises, was issued a trespass advisement and told to leave.

Drunk disturbance, April 4 — Two drunken fishermen argued with a taxi driver about whether the change from a $50 bill for a $27 fare was $23 — or not. The fishermen cursed at the driver and left the taxi after the offended driver flung their money back at them. A sober captain provided the fare and an apology a few minutes later.

Public safety, April 6 — High winds caused an unmanned fishing vessel to drag anchor and crash against rocks at Agnes Beach. Personnel from several organizations assisted in removing the boat from the rocks and towing it to a safe location. The owner of the vessel has yet to be located.

Environmental, April 6 — Winds gusting in excess of 100 mph blew bed liners out of two different pickups. Debris flying from bed liners smashed windows on both of said vehicles. Neither driver was injured. Debris flying from a third pickup fell into the roadway and blocked traffic for a short period.

Ambulance request, April 7, 0226 hours — EMS volunteers provided care to a man who had fallen in the water at the Spit Dock.

Suspicious activity, April 8 — UniSea security requested officer assistance with some hotel guests who were suspected of smoking marijuana in their room. One of the occupants stated that had there been any marijuana, it would have been entirely consumed. Officers found only a pipe in the room.

Liquor law violation, April 10 — Officer advised a man who had just walked into a window at the Harbor View bar that he was too intoxicated to remain on a licensed premise.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Another Sitka herring seiner cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Commercial fish closed season
On 4/7/11 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Nicholas Johanson, 61, of Seattle, during the Sitka herring sac roe fishery for operating a herring seine net off the F/V Crusader in a closed area. Johanson was given a mandatory court appearance of 4/26/11 in Sitka District Court.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter:

Suspicious activity, April 2 — Officer observed two men who appeared to be fighting on the floor of the Harbor View bar. After contacting the two, the officer learned they were simply drunk and engaged in a friendly wrestling match.

Suspicious activity, April 2 — Restaurant employee reported receiving several calls over the last few days for 300 pizzas and McDonald's brand hamburgers. An officer gave her information about instituting traces on the calls.

Domestic disturbance, April 2 — A grown man asked an officer to tell his grown dipsomaniac son to go beddy-bye. The officer helped the drunk to bed, but declined the request to feed the family cat on his way out.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Another boat finds trouble with fish cops at Sitka

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka herring
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 4/4/11 James Miller, 58, and Nels Otness, 85, both of Petersburg, were cited by wildlife troopers for fishing during a closed period during the third opening of the Sitka Sound herring sac roe fishery. Both men were aboard the F/V Aleutian Spirit. Arraignment is set for 4/12/11 at Sitka District Court.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

More Sitka seiners accused of illegal fishing

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 4/4/11 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Sitka Post, observed the F/V Infinite Glory fishing after the closure in the Sitka Sound herring sac roe fishery. The skipper and permit holder, Bryan R. Howey, 42, of Sitka, was cited for fishing in a closed period. Arraignment is set for 4/12/11 in Sitka District Court.

Location: Sitka
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 4/4/11 Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Sitka issued a summons to Thomas Stafford, 45, of Homer, for commercial fishing in closed waters during the third opener of the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. Stafford is scheduled to be arraigned on 4/12/11 in Sitka District Court.

Location: Sitka
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 4/4/11 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Sitka Post, observed the F/V Defiant fishing before the open period in the Sitka Sound herring sac roe fishery. The skipper, Eric Rosvold, 58, of Petersburg, and the permit holder, George J. Skeek, 53, of Petersburg, were cited for commercial fishing in a closed period. Arraignment is set for 4/12/11 in Sitka District Court.

Location: Sitka
Type: Commercial fish closed season
On 4/4/11 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted skipper Joe Lindholm, 67, of Anacortes, Wash., during the Sitka herring sac roe fishery for operating a seine net off the F/V Star Shadow in a closed area. Lindholm's fish tickets were seized and he was given a mandatory court appearance of 4/12/11 in Sitka District Court.

Location: Sitka
Type: Commercial fish closed season
On 4/4/11 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted permit holder William Glenovich, 67, of Bellingham, Wash., during the Sitka herring sac roe fishery for operating a seine net off the F/V Star Shadow in a closed area. Glenovich's fish tickets were seized and he was given a mandatory court appearance of 4/12/11 in Sitka District Court.

Invalid registration costs Juneau crabber $1,000

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Juneau
Type: Update
On 3/17/11 Norval Nelson, 84, of Juneau, pled guilty in Juneau District Court to retaining commercial Tanner crab on board his vessel after he had invalidated his Tanner crab registration. Nelson was fined $1,000 with a $10 surcharge.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Sitka herring seiner accused of illegal fishing

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 4/4/11 John Johanson, 54, of Klawock, was cited for operating a commercial herring seine in closed waters. Johanson was cited after wildlife troopers documented the F/V Alaskan Rose fishing in closed waters during the third opening of the Sitka herring sac roe fishery. He was given a court date of 4/12/11.

Troopers ticket more unlicensed crew at Dutch

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Dutch Harbor
Type: Crew license
On 4/3/11 Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers issued citations to Wilson John Charlie, 30, of Scammon Bay, and Collette Scott Russell, 43, of Brinnon, Wash., for not having 2011 Alaska commercial fishing crewmember licenses in their possession while commercial fishing. The fine is $250 per person. Troopers also issued a citation to Barry Michael Fitzpatrick, 50, of Woodinville, Wash., for employing unlicensed crewmembers onboard his vessel the F/V Northern Hawk. The fine is $250.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Troopers ticket Canadian fish tender at Sitka

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Tender registration
On 4/1/11 Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Sitka issued a summons to John Muren, 48, of Rosedale, British Columbia, for failing to register as a commercial tender in the Sitka sac roe herring fishery. Muren is scheduled to be arraigned on 4/12/11 in Sitka District Court.